GMATpreps — Master the GMAT Focus Edition

Section 3 of 3

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Data Insights

20 questions. 45 minutes. Calculator allowed.

5 question types. Combines old IR + Data Sufficiency. The most MBA-like section.

Data Sufficiency

6-8 questions. The GMAT signature type. Don't solve — determine solvability. Same 5 answer choices every time.

DS · Framework

The 5 Answer Choices

AD/BCE method: Test Stmt 1 first. If sufficient → A or D. If not → B, C, or E.

(A) Statement 1 ALONE sufficient

(B) Statement 2 ALONE sufficient

(C) BOTH together sufficient

(D) EACH alone sufficient

(E) Together still NOT sufficient

DS · Patterns

Value vs Yes/No

Value Q: Can you find ONE unique number?

If multiple values possible → insufficient

Yes/No Q: Can you get a definitive answer?

Sufficient if ALWAYS yes or ALWAYS no

Insufficient if sometimes yes, sometimes no

Two-Part Analysis

2-4 questions. A table with two columns to fill. The two answers are often interdependent.

TPA · Types

3 Sub-Types of TPA

Key: solve one part first, then use it to constrain the other.

Quantitative: systems of equations, optimization

Verbal/CR: strengthen + weaken, assumption + conclusion

Logic-based: if-then reasoning, constraint satisfaction

Graphic Interpretation

4-6 questions. A graph + two fill-in-the-blank drop-down statements. Read fast, extract precise data.

GI · Graph Types

All Graph Types

Bar charts (vertical, horizontal, stacked, grouped)

Line graphs (single and multi-line)

Scatter plots (correlation, trend lines)

Pie charts (sector proportions)

Histograms (frequency distributions)

Box-and-whisker plots (quartiles, IQR)

Bubble charts (3-variable scatter)

Multi-Source Reasoning

2-4 questions. 2-3 tabs of info (text, tables, charts). Synthesize data across tabs. Yes/No format — ALL three must be correct.

MSR · Strategy

MSR Strategy

Read ALL tabs before answering

Identify which tab has the data you need

Cross-reference numbers across tabs

Emails/memos often contain qualitative constraints

No partial credit — all 3 statements must be correct

Table Analysis

2-4 questions. Sortable data table + three Yes/No statements. Must get ALL three right. Speed is everything.

TA · Strategy

TA Strategy

Read the statement FIRST, then sort accordingly

Sort by the relevant column to verify claims

Check for mean, median, range claims

Look for superlatives ("highest", "no country", "all")

Be careful with percentage vs absolute value traps

Data Insights · Data Sufficiencymedium

If a certain city is losing 12% of its daily water supply each day because of water-main breaks, what is the dollar cost to the city per day for this loss? (1) The city's daily water supply is 350 million gallons. (2) The cost to the city for each 12,000 gallons of water lost is $2.

Data Insights · Data Sufficiencyeasy

Buckets X and Y contained only water and bucket Y was 1/2 full. If all of the water in bucket X was then poured into bucket Y, what fraction of the capacity of Y was then filled with water? (1) Before the water from X was poured, X was 1/3 full. (2) X and Y have the same capacity.

Data Insights · Data Sufficiencyhard

Is the integer n odd? (1) n is divisible by 3. (2) 2n is divisible by 6.